Anthony Elanga came back to haunt former club Manchester United at the City Ground on Tuesday night, scoring the winner in a 1-0 triumph for Nottingham Forest.
The Swede, who swapped Old Trafford for the City Ground in July 2023, settled the game after just five minutes, firing past Andre Onana at the end of a blistering counter-attack.
The winger carried the ball from deep inside his own half before scoring from just inside the box. He was a constant threat throughout the evening, reminding United what they let go.
United, to their credit, created plenty of chances either side of half-time and on another night would have taken something from the game. Diogo Dalot hit the bar in the first half with a header before Harry Maguire had an effort cleared off the line with virtually the last kick of the game.
Nevertheless, Ruben Amorim's side are still yet to win back-to-back Premier League games this season. Next up for them is Sunday's Manchester derby against City at Old Trafford.
Recap all of the events from the City Ground by scanning through the blog below...
Key Events
REPORT: United paid the price for Amorim's two mistakes at Forest and he knew it
UNITED PLAYER RATINGS: Yoro impresses as United edged out by Forest
FULL-TIME: FOR 1-0 MUN - Elanga haunts United
HALF-TIME PLAYER RATINGS: One 4/10 as United's attackers struggling to influence proceedings
HALF-TIME: FOR 1-0 MUN - United trail at the break
George Smith
That's a wrap!
We're calling time on our live coverage of tonight's clash between Nottingham Forest and United at the City Ground here, folks.
Many thanks for tuning into the live blog this evening. Continue to check out the MEN website for more reaction and analysis following tonight's 1-0 defeat for the Reds.
KEY EVENT
REPORT: United paid the price for Amorim's two mistakes at Forest and he knew it
The team in red in the top three of the Premier League and off to Wembley for a semi-final. That was Manchester United only two years ago.
Ruben Amorim was regularly vexed at the City Ground. With Nottingham Forest's time-wasting, with the referee and with his own players. United are 13th in the table and have 13 Premier League defeats now, one fewer than the 14 they suffered last season.
Nottingham Forest remain ten places better off than United in this remarkable season of theirs. They have also done the domestic double against United for the first time since 1991-92, Brian Clough's penultimate season in management. It took Forest fans less than a minute to air the first rendition of 'You're not famous anymore'.
Forest have the most clean sheets in the Premier League and United have a -4 goal difference. A fifth-minute goal was enough. Including the added time at the end of each half, Forest clung on for more than 90 minutes.
Click here to read Samuel Luckhurst's match report in full.
KEY EVENT
UNITED PLAYER RATINGS: Yoro impresses as United edged out by Forest
United were beaten 1-0 at Nottingham Forest this evening, being haunted by former winger Anthony Elanga.
The Swede scored the only goal of the game after just five minutes, finding the back of the net at the end of a brilliant counter-attack.
Here is a flavour of how chief United writer Samuel Luckhurst rated United's players out of ten...
Andre Onana
Well beaten by Anthony Elanga. Urged United to quicken the play and he was quicker to release the ball. Made a good save from an offside attempt. 6
Leny Yoro
Confident on the ball and United's best player on the night. Terrific sliding tackle late on to deny Elanga. 7
Matthijs de Ligt
Out of play for Elanga's breakaway goal and had little hassle from Taiwo Awoniyi as Forest maximised Elanga's running. 6
Click here to read Samuel's ratings in full.
KEY EVENT
FULL-TIME: FOR 1-0 MUN - Elanga haunts United
The full-time whistle goes here at the City Ground and Anthony Elanga's fifth-minute winner has scooped all three points for Forest.
United had several chances to get themselves back on terms and earn a point, both before and after half-time, but they were unable to find a way past Matz Sels.
The wait for back-to-back Premier League wins this season continues.
George Smith
90+2' - FOR 1-0 MUN - Maguire heads wide
That might have been the chance for United. Dorgu gets to the byline, sends over a cross, finding Maguire, and the England international heads it well wide of the goal when it looked easier to hit the target at the very least.
George Smith
90' FOR 1-0 MUN - Six minutes added
There will be a minimum of six added minutes at the end of this second half.
George Smith
88' - FOR 1-0 MUN - Maguire comes on
United have brought Maguire on for the closing stages and have sent him up front. He has replaced Yoro.
George Smith
85' - FOR 1-0 MUN - More Forest changes
Forest make a couple more changes;
OFF: Elanga & Awoniyi
ON: Sosa & Sangare
George Smith
83' - FOR 1-0 MUN - Yoro to the rescue
United will be glad to see the back of Elanga tonight. The Swede almost gets in behind United's defence again, but Yoro did just enough to win the ball and prevent him from getting closer to goal.
George Smith
80' - FOR 1-0 MUN - Mount a whisker away
What an impact that would have been from Mount! Milenkovic's awful clearance finds Mount on the edge of the box and the former Chelsea man curls an effort just wide of the post. It really wasn't far away.
George Smith
78' - FOR 1-0 MUN - Mount comes on
United make another change with just under 15 minutes to go;
OFF: Zirkzee
ON: Mount
George Smith
76' - FOR 1-0 MUN - Forest fans want a penalty
Forest's fans are appealing for a penalty after Gibbs-White drives into the box and goes down. Ultimately, he was just crowded out by men in blue.
George Smith
71' - FOR 1-0 MUN - Williams booked
Forest defender Williams is the latest man to have his name taken, going into the book for a foul on Garnacho.
George Smith
69' - FOR 1-0 MUN - Garnacho thwarted
United try to hit Forest on the counter. Fernandes sends a brilliant ball over the top for Garnacho to latch onto, he attempts to cut inside and get a shot off, but Yates put an important tackle in to thwart him.
The resulting corner came to nothing.
George Smith
67' - FOR 1-0 MUN - Forest make a change
Forest make their first change of this second half;
OFF: Anderson
ON: Dominguez
George Smith
65' - FOR 1-0 MUN - Garnacho booked
Forest have conceded just ten goals at home in the Premier League this season and their structure tonight has shown why. They have kept their shape really well and United are continuing to struggle to find a way through.
Their best chances have come via corners.
As I type the above, Garnacho has been yellow carded for kicking the ball away after the whistle had gone.
George Smith
59' - FOR 1-0 MUN - United change
Amorim makes his second change;
OFF: Casemiro
ON: Eriksen
George Smith
55' - FOR 1-0 MUN - United have not got going since the break
United have not found any sort of rhythm in the opening ten minutes of this second half. Forest have carried the greater threat and are keen to find that second goal.
George Smith
49' - FOR 1-0 MUN - Onana with a top save
The offside flag did go up, meaning it would not have counted, but Onana makes a terrific save to deny Yates, who connected with a brilliant ball in from the right.
As I type the above, Casemiro goes into the book for a foul on Yates. The United midfielder was not happy at all with the decision.
George Smith
46' - FOR 1-0 MUN - Hojlund wins United a corner
Hojlund makes a good run in behind the Forest defence and wins a corner. He was slipped in by Garnacho, who needs a better performance in this half.
The corner was sent in towards the near-post by Fernandes and found the head of Casemiro, who couldn't generate any meaningful power.
George Smith
46' - FOR 1-0 MUN - Second half kicks-off
The second half is underway at the City Ground. Hojlund has come on to replace Ugarte for United.
George Smith
Hojlund coming on
United are going to introduce Hojlund ahead of the start of the second half.
KEY EVENT
HALF-TIME PLAYER RATINGS: One 4/10 as United's attackers struggling to influence proceedings
Here is how Samuel Luckhurst has rated United's players out of ten following the first half at the City Ground...
Onana
Well beaten for the goal. 6
Yoro
Confident with the ball. 6
De Ligt
Okay. 6
Mazraoui
Poor for the goal. 5
Dalot
Had plenty of the ball. 6
Ugarte
Offered presence. 6
Casemiro
Mucked in to halt another Elanga charge. 6
Dorgu
Didn't keep up with Elanga. 5
Fernandes
Tested Sels. 6
Garnacho
Poor. 4
Zirkzee
Offered no presence. 5
KEY EVENT
HALF-TIME: FOR 1-0 MUN - United trail at the break
The half-time whistle goes here at the City Ground and Forest have a slender advantage, thanks to Anthony Elanga's brilliant opener after just five minutes.
United have played some good stuff and could quite easily be level. The closest they came to getting themselves back on terms was when Diogo Dalot headed against the bar from a corner.
George Smith
45+6' - FOR 1-0 MUN - Casemiro fires wide
Good approach play from United results in Casemiro having a strike from distance, but it goes horribly wide.
George Smith
45' - FOR 1-0 MUN - Six minutes added
There will be a minimum of six additional minutes at the end of this first half.
George Smith
38' - FOR 1-0 MUN - Aina can't continue
Aina has been forced down the tunnel for Forest and will be unable to continue. He was hobbling quite badly.
The hosts have brought Moreno on to replace him. Another change sees Danilo replaced by Morato, suggesting they are overseeing a tactical shift.
Samuel Luckhurst
38' - FOR 1-0 MUN - Amorim leans on his fellow countrymen
Amorim was chatting primarily with Fernandes and Dalot during that exchange. Yours truly wrote back in February they are the two players he tends to lean on (the Portuguese connection will be particularly relevant).
Steven Railston
36' - FOR 1-0 MUN - Zirkzee call hasn't worked
The decision to start Zirkzee down the middle hasn't paid off - he is not a striker - and it's probably best to get Hojlund on for the second half, but Maguire, Lindelof, Mount and Amass are currently the only payers who are warming up ahead of half-time.
Samuel Luckhurst
34' - FOR 1-0 MUN - United fans right behind Amorim
Amorim wasn't happy at all with Mazraoui's overzealousness there in fouling Elanga. His annoyance is understandable, given Elanga was in line with his own penalty area.
The first batch of United substitutes have started warming up. The United fans are chanting their Amorim song to Bonnie Tyler a lot louder now.
